Short report: mental health problems among left-behind children in Vietnam: prevalence and an examination of social support and parent-child communication as protective factors

ABSTRACT

The popularity of labor migration in Vietnam leaves millions of children at home. The study aims to compare the mental health of left-behind children (LBC) and non-left-behind children (NLBC) in a Vietnamese sample and examine social factors that could influence LBC’s mental health. The study enrolled a sample of 371 LBC and 302 NLBC. Emotional Symptoms and Conduct Problems subscale of the SDQ were regarded as indicators of mental health. Results showed no differences between LBC and NLBC in terms of Emotional symptoms and Conduct problems. Notably, female LBC was more susceptible to Emotional symptoms than male LBC and female NLBC. Social support from family was negatively associated with mental health problems. No association was found between parent-child communication and mental health.

KEYWORDS:

• left-behind children
• Vietnam
• mental health
• social support
• parent-child communication

Acknowledgments

The authors appreciate the participation of all the schools and children enrolled in the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research is funded by Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) under grant number 501.01-2019.300; Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED).